ONCEUPONA TIME,THELITTLEREDSCHOOLHOUSE By Dorothea Taylor Edited by Greta Davey Dorothea Taylor was born in Poughkeepsie in 1913 and lived there all her life. She taught in public and private schools for over sixty years, including her innovative work with mentally-retarded and handicapped children. She studied at Vassar College, Columbia and New York Universities and the State University of New York at New Paltz. Her work was recognized by Eleanor Roosevelt and some of her written material was used by President Kennedy's Panel on Mental Retardation. She is listed in Who's Who in Community Leaders ( 1972) and the Dictionary oflnternational Biography (1974 ). Mrs. Taylor was the mother of two daughters, as well as a grandmother and great grandmother. She died in March 2001.This Article of reminiscences is a chapter from her autobiography. It was edited by Greta Davey, herself a mother of seven grown children, and a writer with an interest in history. She recently retired from the Acquisitions Department at Vassar College Library.
Introduction In April 1940 the Welfare Leaguefor RetardedChildren,Inc.was charteredunderthe corporationlawsof New York State. As a non-sectarian, non-profitgroup,it was dedicatedto the welfare advancement for mentally retardedchildren.The WelfareLeague embarked upon a program of Recreational Rehabilitation at Letchworth Village. In 1947, in cooperation with the Administration, a program for medical research was institutedwith a double objective. First, and most importantto humanity,wasprevention; second,to promotethe vitalneedforthe improvementoftheafflictedchildren.A Dorothea Taylor
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